Blog Archive

Friday, November 13, 2009

Here is video of President Obama in Japan today where he refused to defend the U.S. dropping of Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II.

A Japanese reporter put him on the spot by asking him if he wanted to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki while in office, and asked him if he thought the dropping of the bombs "was the right decision."

Obama said he would find it "meaningful" to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but that he has no immediate travel plans. The reporter tried to ask the "was it right" question again, and instead Obama brushed it off and answered a question about North Korea instead.

This was a tough spot for Obama in Japan. I'll grant that. But like other Presidents before him, Obama could have firmly but politely said that the decision was made to end the war and save lives. The dropping of the bombs did both. It ended the war, and it saved hundreds of thousands of lives - on both sides. The Japanese would have fought to the last man for their home islands. U.S. Forces already had estimated it could cost 1 million U.S. casualties to launch an invasion of Japan. Truman did exactly the right thing, and Obama should have politely affirmed his fellow Democrat.

Here is audio of Rush Limbaugh today commenting on Obama's refusal to defend the U.S. dropping of the bombs. Rush thinks Obama personally believes the U.S. was wrong. He starts talking about Hiroshima and Obama's non-answer at the 2:24 mark of the video:

5
comments:

As a democrat, and I will be an indpendent very soon. This is such a disturbing video. What would this america-loathing fraud's answer be if asked, Should US have gone to war during WW1 and WW2.

Isn't his fking job to defend America and America's interest, and not his own??

No matter how much I disliked Bush, I always knew he was on America and American's side. As for Obama, he is president of a country {and its citizens} he absolutely hates. It is just getting more and more clear every day.

The historical challenges that the USA has with Japan include more than just the A bombs (or even civil/dual use of technology that the USA is wary of). Interesting article here, with a ground level view of old wounds in Okinawa - the sort of thing that must be addressed for progress...

http://www.counterpunch.com/mitchell11132009.html

... but is Obama aware of such grievances? Is he able to act at all? Will Old Rush Limby even see the sense in concession?

Rush is nothing more than the Fat Mouth Who Roared. he's insignificant in historical terms, so what he did to get a deferment is trivial. It's guys like Big Dick Cheney who got five deferments from service in Vietnam(because he had "other priorities") who then find themselves in positions of power and send other peoples' kids into harms way -- THAT'S the criminal act!

When US politicians unwisely provoke foreigners, odd things can happen. This current article reminds me of when the late US Congressman Lantos lashed out at Turkey, also a major US ally, for its genocide of the Armenians. Turkey then refused to cooperate with the US Military in its fight in Iraq. I guess Lantos had the facts right, but his actions caused the US harm.

This particular event you now address appears to be a case of one (Japanese) news reporter/entertainer trying to provoke the President. Now we have one of our own (American) entertainers trying to provoke/inspire/confuse his audience.

What is it that President Obama has to defend? Has he ever suggested that President Truman’s actions were other than 100% correct? I believe that the President is aware that Japan has never taken full responsibility for its horrific actions during WWII. Nothing that the President says to a Japanese reporter is going to change this. If the President however lashes out publically against Japan, a good ally overall, that may give credibility to the right-wing pro-militarist Japanese minority; that is contrary to American interests.

I hope our President spends his time in Asia speaking with Asian leaders and continues to diplomatically avoid ridiculous entrapments by self-serving entertainers/newmen.

About Freedom's Lighthouse

Freedom's Lighthouse is dedicated to being a blog of record for the political history of the United States of America. The United States is "Freedom's Lighthouse" in a world where the light of freedom is not found in many places. We will record that history - past and present - with a great emphasis on video, and will also mix in some of the nation's top sports and cultural news. In all we do we will seek to uphold the conservative principles that have made America "Freedom's Lighthouse."